ImprovFestivals.orgFliegende Funken
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | September 17-20, 2026 |
| Theme | Against the Drift / Gegen den Drift ins Seichte |
| Location | Bremen, Germany |
| Languages | German, English |
| Organizer | Fliegende Funken e.V. |
| Website | fliegendefunken.de |
| Fliegende Funken | |
| @fliegendefunken |
Overview
Fliegende Funken is a long-running improv theater festival held annually in Bremen, Germany since 2010, organized by the non-profit Fliegende Funken e.V., a collective drawn from members of various Bremen improv groups. The festival is presented bilingually in German and English, and is widely described as one of the leading improvisational theater festivals in the German-speaking world.
Each edition is built around a different theme that the organizers use to challenge artists with new questions. Past themes have included "Gateway Impro - Türen in die Welt" (2022, on ecology and globalisation) and "Impro Meets Film" (2024). The festival did not run in 2025. The 2026 edition, themed "Against the Drift," takes aim at what the organizers call the constant pull of improv toward shallow entertainment, and asks whether quality entertainment and genuine artistic development can coexist.
Workshops
The 2026 program offers seven workshops at three skill levels (A: under 2 years, B: 2+ years, C: 5+ years) split between Kulturzentrum Lagerhaus and Verein Vorwärts. Instructors include Andrew Hefler (Resistance; Masterclass on normalcy and challenging themes), Nicole Erichsen and Gunter Lösel (Feedback Loop Mastery, in German), Rachel Bouton and Chris Frerichs (musical improv), and Christian Capozzoli (Aerodynamics of Yes; Organic Montage and Collaboration). Workshops are offered in both German and English.